Johan Gustafsson and Patrik Sjörgen, founders of GoS Watches, create watches that encapsulate their passion for Scandinavia’s Viking past and the natural beauty of Sweden’s landscape. As unique as they are unusual, GoS watches are a far cry from the minimalist aesthetic we tend to associate with Scandinavian design. Ahead of Baselworld 2019, GoS introduces […]
Editor’s note: Basel is just around the corner, which means that I’m spending more time than is strictly healthy speculating on what configurations of complications we might be seeing from our favourite brands … like Grand Seiko. But you know what? It would be a hard task indeed to improve on the long tall drink of water that is this Grand Seiko GMT. If you were looking for a go-anywhere-do-anything type watch (and honestly, aren’t we all?), then a stylistically versatile steel GMT on a bracelet would tick a lot of the boxes. And as far as versatile steel GMTs go, there aren’t too many options that offer quite as much as Grand Seiko’s SBGJ203. It’s got the looks: a distinctive, angular and exceptionally well-finished 40mm case, paired with a rich dial that sets an exceptionally high bar for the competition. There’s fine detail at play, but it’s not a watch to peacock its virtues, or to sacrifice comfort and function in favour of style. And then there’s movement. Grand Seiko’s 9S86, released in 2014, is a connoisseur’s choice, a well-finished automatic that beats at an accurate 5Hz rate, with an antimagnetic balance spring and 55 hours of power reserve. Not…
The post EDITOR’S PICK: Another look at the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT SBGJ203 appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Editor’s note: Basel is just around the corner, which means that I’m spending more time than is strictly healthy speculating on what configurations of complications we might be seeing from our favourite brands … like Grand Seiko. But you know what? It would be a hard task indeed to improve on the long tall drink of water that is this Grand Seiko GMT. If you were looking for a go-anywhere-do-anything type watch (and honestly, aren’t we all?), then a stylistically versatile steel GMT on a bracelet would tick a lot of the boxes. And as far as versatile steel GMTs go, there aren’t too many options that offer quite as much as Grand Seiko’s SBGJ203. It’s got the looks: a distinctive, angular and exceptionally well-finished 40mm case, paired with a rich dial that sets an exceptionally high bar for the competition. There’s fine detail at play, but it’s not a watch to peacock its virtues, or to sacrifice comfort and function in favour of style. And then there’s movement. Grand Seiko’s 9S86, released in 2014, is a connoisseur’s choice, a well-finished automatic that beats at an accurate 5Hz rate, with an antimagnetic balance spring and 55 hours of power reserve. Not…
The post EDITOR’S PICK: Another look at the Grand Seiko Hi-Beat GMT SBGJ203 appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Zenith is rather proud of the fact — and understandably so — that they hold the trademark for the “Pilot” name on watches, so it makes sense for them to proudly emblazon the name on the dials of their aviation-inspired pieces. This latest limited edition is extra special (also mentioned on the dial), because of its uncommon construction. The design of this Pilot is — well — pure pilot, with its large, classically shaped 45mm case, even bigger onion crown, stylised Arabic numerals and cathedral hands, replete with a suitably rugged calfskin strap (with an extra, somewhat mysterious, layer of leather on the bottom). Where things start getting interesting is the case material. You’d be forgiven for thinking it was steel, or perhaps even white gold. But no, you’re looking at sterling silver. Silver, while very traditional in jewellery, isn’t frequently seen in watches, largely because it tarnishes over time. However, in this age of forced patina, a silver case offers a dressier alternative to de rigueur bronze. The dial is also noteworthy. Made to resemble the riveted hull of a plane, it also features a very cool, randomised brush finish, again evoking the industrial finishing of early planes. It’s a…
The post INTRODUCING: The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Silver appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.
Remembering the fashion icon.
There’s certainly no shortage of dive watches on the market, with popular icons from Rolex, Omega, Seiko and other heavyweights in retailers worldwide. Unique offerings from lesser known brands like H20 Watch and Farer provide intriguing alternatives, and there was a boom of relatively unknown, first-class divers thriving in the 1960s and 1970s. Although never a household name, Aquadive was well respected among water enthusiasts in those earlier decades with high depth ratings, no-nonsense designs and advanced technology for the time. Similar in spirit to the revived Jenny Caribbean 300 diver, the new Aquadive Bathyscaphe 100 GMT brings retro styling with modern engineering for divers seeking to relive the past or simply sport a unique piece. With both German and Swiss design, the watch is first and foremost a submersible tool, but a stylish option for terrestrial fans as well. Let’s take a closer look at this modern take on a sea-dwelling blast from the past.
Perfection and the art of Spring Drive.
Baume & Mercier updates their Baumatic with new blue dials, gold cases, and more.
Nothing gives a watch credentials like a stint in outer space. Fortis, founded in 1912, has long been associated with rugged pilot’s watches and became part of the official equipment of Russian cosmonauts in 1994. Launched into space on a MIR space station mission, the Official Cosmonauts Chronograph bears the logo of the Russian space authorities (Roscomos) on the caseback and continues to accumulate mission patches from ongoing International Space Station adventures. Last year, Fortis participated in a simulation of the first human landing on Mars that took place in the desert of Oman and provided chronographs for the entire team.
Editor’s note: The other week I caught up with a mate who had recently come to the inevitable realisation that he needed a yellow gold Day-Date on his wrist. He struggled with the stigma of gold for ages (yellow gold AND a Rolex to boot), before finally reconciling that it was, by all metrics, awesome. And that got me thinking back to this instructional guide from Andy Green … You know who you are, and you know why you’re here — and it’s totally fine. You’ve found yourself at the inevitable crossroad that all collectors come to. You’re finally in the position to buy something that you never thought you’d like, but as your tastes have evolved, you’re struggling to resist it. When you first started collecting watches, you swore it was too obnoxious, gaudy and ‘flashy’ … yet, here you are, lusting after a gold watch — not knowing how to handle it. Firstly, it’s okay. Like I said, we’ve all been there, often without realising. Maybe it happened when you were at your local dealer, who only had that model you wanted in white gold. Maybe you tried on a friend’s piece and fell in love with the weight of the metal.…
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